Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Toxic Dangerous Toys New York

Black Friday is just around the corner, but parents are being urged
to take care when buying toys this year. Several being sold in Albany
County contain toxic chemicals that pose health risks to children,
according a new survey. Researchers found a dozen toys on store shelves
containing lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium and more – toxic chemicals
that have been linked to cancers, cognitive impairments and
hyperactivity.

GOVERNOR CUOMO ALERTS NEW
YORKERS ABOUT POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS TOYS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today advised the public of several popular toys
available for purchase this holiday season that could pose a risk to children.
Testing commissioned by the New York State Division of Consumer Protection has
found that the “Disney Frozen Musical Watch” and the “Princess Expressions
Accessory Kit” contain lead exceeding federal standards in children’s products.
The Division of Consumer Protection has also found that several cars in the
“Tough Treadz Auto Carrier” toy have sharp edges that can pose a laceration
hazard to young children. Individuals with any of these products should set
them aside, in a safe area away from children, to await future manufacturer
instructions.

“As a parent, the safety of my children is paramount. With the holiday shopping
season upon us, parents and consumers must be forewarned about the hazardous
materials contained in certain toys so they avoid purchasing them and putting
their children at risk,” Governor Cuomo said. “I urge manufacturers,
distributors and retailers of all three of these potentially harmful toys to
immediately discontinue their sales and be vigilant in alerting those who have
already purchased them about the risks they pose.”

The Division of Consumer Protection has provided the Consumer Product Safety
Commission with laboratory results exhibiting the hazards of the following toys
and called for a national recall of these products. The Division of Consumer
Protection is working with manufacturers, distributors and retailers to ensure
the toys are removed from sales circulation.

Disney Frozen Musical Watch – view photo of product here
The federal standard for lead in children’s toys is 100 parts per million
(ppm). According to DCP’s commissioned tests, the “Disney Frozen Musical
Watch,” purchased at Target and distributed by the Accutime Watch Corp.,
contains 160 ppm of lead in the buckle of the watch and 130 ppm in the prong
used to secure it. The buckle and prong were tested separately and elevated
levels of lead were found in each component.

Lead can be a hazardous material to children and adults if it gets into their
bodies. Depending on the level and length of exposure, lead can harm a young
child's growth, behavior and ability to learn. While exposure to lead can be
toxic to everyone, young children are at the greatest risk of developing health
problems due to lead poisoning; children under the age of 6 are more likely to get
lead poisoning than any other age group. More information about lead poisoning
and prevention is available on the New York State Department of Health website here.

Tough Treadz Auto Carrier – view photo of product here
The “Tough Treadz Auto Carrier,”manufactured for children ages 3 and
up,was purchased at Family Dollar in Albanyand distributed by
the Midwood Brands LLC and Polyfect Toys Co. Ltd. Each toy contains an
assortment of die cast metal cars with sharp edges. The sharp edges are in
violation of toy safety standards enacted by the federal Consumer Product
Safety and Improvement Act of 2008.

The Division of Consumer Protection has reached out to the manufacturers and
distributors of these products to alert them of its findings and has urged them
to cease distribution and sales of the products, voluntarily recall them, and
provide a means of redress for consumers who have already purchased them. In
addition, Division of Consumer Protection has notified affected retailers of
its findings and requested that they remove the products from their shelves and
discontinue sales.

The Division of Consumer Protection has also provided the U.S. Consumer Product
Safety Commission with its laboratory results, and has called for a national
recall of the products. The Consumer Product Safety Commission is currently
performing its own review.

Federal law requires that manufacturers and importers test all toys designed or
intended primarily for use by children 12 years of age and younger for
compliance with federal children’s product safety standards. The Children’s
Product Safety and Recall Effectiveness Act of the New York State General
Business Law requires a commercial dealer to contact any person or entity that
has purchased a product subject to a recall or warning within 24 hours. The
dealer must direct the termination of sales or distribution of the recalled
product to any purchasers and provide instructions for how to properly destroy
it to the manufacturer. In addition, retailers are required to remove all
recalled children’s products from their shelves within 24 hours of receiving a
recall or warning notice.

For more information and educational tips to keeping individuals, families and
children safe this holiday season, visit the Division of Consumer Protection
website here
or follow the agency on Twitter at @NYSConsumer and Facebook at www.facebook.com/nysconsumer.

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